YEREVAN. June 28 (Interfax-AVN) - Armenian military officers who took part in a conference in Baku this week to plan NATO-run military exercises were satisfied with their visit to the Azerbaijani capital, one of the officers said on Saturday.
The conference organizers and Azerbaijani Defense Ministry officials gave the two Armenian officers "a warm welcome and ensured complete security for them," Colonel Murad Isakhanian told reporters in Yerevan.
Among other things, the Armenians were taken on a tour of Baku.
Isakhanian said he and his colleague came under threat from Azerbaijani militants on one occasion and that, after that, the U.S. Embassy in Baku offered to take over their security. But the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry continued to take full responsibility for their safety, he said.
The Armenian officers also considered cutting short their visit, he said.
In response, delegates of some of the NATO countries said that, if the Armenians left before the conference was over, they would follow suit, and one of the delegates said Azerbaijan would be the wrong venue for a military exercise if any serviceman was hurt in the course of it.
After some discussion, the Armenian officers decided to stay until the conference ended, and Azerbaijan tightened its security, Isakhanian said.
"Armenia will continue to take part in any event that is aimed at cooperation and stability in the South Caucasus region," he said.
An agreement was reached at the conference that several Armenian officers would take part in a planned NATO-run exercise in Azerbaijan in fall 2004, he said.